Paddles 5/20-23

We have had some warmer weather and the water temperatures are now above 50, so we’ve taken to the water. The quarantine rules have relaxed some, so I am traveling a bit farther afield. I drove to Squam Lake, spent the day with my niece and her husband, washed a few windows and took a short paddle.

Water’s edge. Squam Lake, NH 5/20/20

The next day, Jane and I met her brother, sister, and brother-in-law for a delightful kayak on Upper Baker Pond in Orford. We saw a pair of loons, some white flowering bushes,

Loon. Upper Baker Pond, NH. 5/21/20
Shad bush (Service Berry?) Upper Baker Pond, NH 5/21/20

and one mallard drake. Is the hen sitting on a nest?

Mallard drake. Upper Baker Pond, NH 5/21/20

We kayaked on the Connecticut River out of Wilder on Saturday. We came across a family of geese.

Canada goose family. Connecticut River, NH 5/22/20

It was finally warm enough that we heard the frogs singing.

Frog. Connecticut River, VT. 5/22/20
Spotted sandpiper. Connecticut River, VT. 5/23/20

From my kayak 8/31-9/4

This has been a week for fog, green herons, falcons, turtles, and a cormorant.

Goose and duck in the fog. Connecticut River 9/4/2018
Annoyed green heron. Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 8/31/2018
Green heron. Mink Brook, 9/4/2018
Green heron sticking out his tongue. Mink Brook, 9/4/2018
Peregrin with kingbird. Ompompanousuc, Norwich, VT 9/2/2018
Merlin. North Hartland Lake 9/1/2018
American kestrel. North Hartland Lake 9/1/2018
Painted turtle North Hartland Lake 9/1/2018
Wood turtle. Ompompanousuc River 9/2/2018
Cormorant. Connecticut River 8/31/2018